Akumajō Dracula X Chi no Rondo

Infobox VG
title = Akumajō Dracula X Chi no Rondo


developer = Konami
publisher = Konami
designer = Toru Hagihara ("Director / Programmer")
series = Castlevania
engine =
released = PC Engine CD
vgrelease|Japan|JP|October 29, 1993
PlayStation Portable (part of )
vgrelease|North America|NA|October 23, 2007
vgrelease|Australia|AUS|October 26, 2007

genre = Platform game
modes = Single player
ratings =
platforms = PC Engine CD, PlayStation Portable (as part of )
media = 1 CD-ROM (PC Engine)/1 UMD (PSP)
requirements = Super System Card 3.0 (PC Engine CD)
input = :"Dracula X redirects here. For the American SNES game, see , and for the Playstation and Sega Saturn sequel, see ."nihongo|"Akumajō Dracula X Chi no Rondo"|悪魔城ドラキュラX 血の輪廻|Akumajō Dorakyura Ekkusu Chi no Rondo|lit. "Demon Castle Dracula X Rondo of Blood" is a Japanese PC Engine Super CD video game in the popular "Castlevania" series, released on October 29, 1993. The "X" of the title refers to the Roman numeral for ten, since it is the tenth chronologically released game in the "Akumajō Dracula" series in Japan (not counting the Famicom and Game Boy game "Kid Dracula"). [ [http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/dracula/product/1993.html Konami's official "Akumajō Dracula" website: 1993.] Retrieved on 5 January 2008.] It was never released outside of Japan, despite positive reviews from both fans and critics.

The kanji "輪廻" are generally pronounced "rinne", referring to the Buddhist concept of the endless cycle of death and rebirth. The idea of cycle could correspond to the musical form of the rondo, in which the first section of the music is repeated, usually in the tonic, or first note of the musical scale. For this particular game, because of the furigana ロンド in the title, "Rondo" is the official pronunciation, or forced reading, of the kanji. On the front cover of the Official Strategy Guide, the English title is written as "Dracula-X Reincarnation of Blood" [http://castlevania.classicgaming.gamespy.com/Images/Scans/Rondo/pce_dx_guide_fr.jpg] .

A game based on "Chi no Rondo" called "" ("Akumajō Dracula XX" in Japan and "Castlevania: Vampire's Kiss" in Europe) was released for the Super NES two years later.

In 2007, "Chi no Rondo" saw a North American release and remake as part of ' for PlayStation Portable. This game, for the first time, officially re-titles the original "Chi no Rondo" as "Castlevania: Rondo of Blood""' for English localization.

Gameplay

Rondo of Blood plays as a side-scrolling platform game, and is much like the original Castlevania. The player controls Richter Belmont through a series of seven stages, wielding a slow but powerful whip as the primary weapon. Items such as torches and candelabras can be smashed to reveal power-ups hidden inside, as well as a number of side-arms, though only one can be carried at a time. Unlike its predecessors, there are no upgrades available to the whip - it is fully upgraded at the beginning of the game, and remains so permanently. The game also features the the Item Crush ability that has cropped up in subsequent "Castlevania" titles. This ability allows a sub-weapon to be used in a super attack, which attacks either all enemies on-screen or delivers concentrated damage to one area depending on the sub-weapon used, at the expense of a large amount of hearts.

Like Castlevania III, Rondo of Blood progresses in a semi-linear fashion. Each level contains a linear route. At the end of the level is a boss monster which must be defeated in order to progress to the next level. However, some of the levels also contain secret passages which may lead to alternate routes, which when completed bring the player to an alternate boss fight followed by an alternate level. Other secret passages lead to cells in which the maidens of Richter's village are held, one of whom is Maria, who becomes a playable character once rescued.

Plot

It is the year 1792, and Dracula is revived by the Dark Priest Shaft. After building up his dark forces, he sets out for the village inhabited by 19-year-old Richter Belmont, heir to the Vampire Killer whip, and razes the village. Moreover, Dracula's minions kidnap Richter's girlfriend Annette, a young vampire huntress Maria Renard, and several other local villagers. Thus, burdened by both duty and destiny, Richter, wielding the whip of his ancestors, sets out for Castlevania.

Once there, Richter manages to free the people of his village (including Annette and Maria). Maria, although quite young, is able to assist him with her animal helpers. Richter and Maria prove victorious in the battle against Shaft, Death, and the lord of Darkness.

Rondo of Blood sets the stage for Symphony of the Night, as SotN begins with a recreation of Richter's final battle against Dracula.

Audio

With access to CD-quality music, the game's soundtrack incorporates a combination of pop style and the "progressive rock" theme evident in previous games, with some of the tracks using live guitars for the melody or backup. Familiar tunes "Vampire Killer" (which is amalgamated with Stalker, the second level tune from the original Castlevania), "Bloody Tears" and "Beginning" were all rearranged for this game. These three songs are also used in a medley called "The Nest". This was also the first game to use the "Dance of Illusions" theme during the final battle with Dracula, and it has frequently returned as Dracula's boss theme since. "Divine Bloodlines" would also make appearances in later games such as "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night" , the Nintendo 64's "Castlevania" and "Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin".

Several other pieces from the original NES game were also included: "Poison Mind" (the boss theme, played on the sixth stage and at the final stage), the death dirge, the "Dracula Defeated" jingle (also from CV1), the "Stage Clear" jingle, and the "Game Over" theme. These are all played through the PC Engine's sound hardware as opposed to being CD Audio.

The soundtrack was released in a two disc set (the second disc containing the soundtrack to "") in 1994 and has since been taken out of production.

Development

Versions and re-releases

A game based on "Chi no Rondo" entitled ' (nihongo|"Akumajō Dracula XX"|悪魔城ドラキュラXX|Akumajō Dorakyura Daburu Ekkusu|Demon Castle Dracula Double X in Japan and "Castlevania: Vampire's Kiss""' in Europe) was released for the SNES in 1995. This game shares the gameplay, storyline and most of the music from "Chi no Rondo" (though this music was of a different quality due to the cartridge's lack of redbook audio), but the levels had been completely redesigned and many other elements were completely removed. Maria, one of the only two hostages in the game, is no longer a playable character. There are fewer levels than in Rondo of Blood, and two alternate routes. Although both games share the same basic storyline, the priest Shaft (who resurrects Dracula) is not present nor even identified in the SNES game.

"" for the PSP, released in North America in October 2007, is a redone version of "Chi no Rondo" in 2.5D format with remixed music and new voice acting. The original PC Engine version is an unlockable bonus, featuring both English and Japanese voice acting to choose from.

The game was released on the Wii for the Japanese Virtual Console on April 22, 2008 [http://www.vc-reviews.com/news/2008/03/japanese_virtual_console_list_april_2008] .

Reception

Legacy

"Chi no Rondo" had remarkable impact to the series. The following games would be influenced by it graphics wise, with many sprites directly taken from the game.

The game was highly sought after by many fans. Before its North American release on the PSP, copies often sold for well over $100 on eBay even though copies of the game are easy to find in Japan. The price brought by the high demand often led people to believe that the game is rare.Fact|date=September 2008

References

External links

* [http://castlevania.classicgaming.gamespy.com/Games/rondo.html The Castlevania Dungeon: Dracula X: Rondo of Blood] (Review/Article of the game)
* [http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3156904 1Up previews Dracula X Chronicles for the PSP]